There’s “The Talk” your parents had with you years ago, and then there’s “The Talk” you now need to have with one or both of them. Of course, the subject matter is different, but they are both crucial conversations that can be tricky. “The Talk” we’re speaking of now is having the conversation with your mom and/or dad about getting professional senior care assistance. You’re probably going to encounter some resistance, from mildly emotional to very tense, but with these tips, it can be a cooperative and productive conversation.
Tip #1: Be prepared
Before you broach the topic of senior care, do your homework. Do some online research or talk with medical professionals to gather the information you need for a productive conversation about how a caregiver can help your family.
Sharing articles with your parent that serve as an icebreaker can also help get the talk started. After they read the article(s), sit with them and ask their opinion. Make it clear you have their best interests at heart and want to honor their wishes, not decide on your own.
Tip #2: Be patient
If you feel like you’re at your wit’s end, it’s not a good time to have the talk. Instead, wait until you’re calm and centered before starting the conversation about senior care with them.
Keep in mind that aging carries with it physical and mental changes for seniors that can make it difficult for them to have in-depth conversations about their concerns and needs. Do your best to show empathy and maintain your patience during the conversation.
If you get frustrated, step back and resume the conversation later, when you’re more level-headed.
Tip #3: Let them take the lead
People make decisions for their reasons, not ours. Keeping that in mind, it’s crucial that your senior loved one conclude on their own that professional senior care is in their best interests. Your parent is much more likely to agree to senior care if they feel they’ve played an important role in decision-making. It also helps to give them choices, rather than just presenting one option and telling them what will happen. For example, you may ask them, “Dad, would you like to have someone come and help twice a week, or would three be better?”
Tip #4: Stress that their well-being is your top priority
It’s natural for aging adults to feel that the importance of their role in your life is slipping, particularly when you share with them how you’d like to have someone new help care for them. This makes it vital that you stress that their well-being and happiness matter most to you and that you want only what’s best for them. It’s also okay to let them know that home care will be helping you out as well. Many parents feel a degree of guilt over having child care for them and are relieved when they know that some of the pressure will be taken off of them by having a professional caregiver assist them.
New Wave Home Care Can Help
Our motto at New Wave Home Care is “Communication is Connecting and Connecting is Caring.” Our caregivers are trained experts in communicating and connecting with seniors, which is particularly helpful for an aging parent who is experiencing receiving home care for the first time.
Contact us today if your senior loved one lives in Pasadena or the greater Los Angeles area. We’ll be happy to learn more about your loved one’s needs and give you details on our rates and services. We look forward to assisting your family.
